Steven Gerrard admits he will never win the title with Liverpool

I need a miracle! Gerrard admits title ambitions are unlikely to be fulfilled at Liverpool

|

UPDATED:

10:49 GMT, 30 September 2012

Steven Gerrard has admitted he is extremely unlikely to ever realise his title dream with Liverpool.

The Reds captain says because of his age and the strength of the teams they would have to beat that it would take a 'miracle' to win the Barclays Premier League.

Gerrard conceded that a far more realistic ambition would be to help the side reach the top four and qualify for the Champions League.

Miracle: Steven Gerrard does not believe he will win the title

‘It will be a miracle if I now realise my dream of winning the title with Liverpool,' he said in his recently released autobiography My Liverpool Story.

'I say that because of my age and where we finished in the league the past couple of years. And also the situation we’re in with the rivalries,' he explained.

'There’s not just United and Arsenal now but City, Chelsea and Tottenham. Newcastle coming as well. The Premier League has become a lot more difficult to win for everyone.

'We were eighth last year. If this season goes well, we get a bit of luck, improve, we have an outside, no, a 50-50 chance of being in the top four. That’s being realistic. It’s achievable.

Keep on trucking: Gerrard says he will not give up

'But even if we do sneak into the top
four I’ll be 33 at the end of the season, so that’s why it’ll be a
miracle if we win the title before I finish. 'But I’ll keep fighting.
I’ll keep trying and see what happens.'

The fact he is still able to turn out for the club is something which Gerrard truly appreciates after his career nearly ended last year.

'I don’t think people realise how close I was to not playing again,' he explained.

'I appreciate anything I can achieve in any game I can play now. I just think back a year.'

After returning from a serious groin injury he had his ankle grazed by Daniel Agger in training but it started to swell.

Fine line: But for the doctor's help Brendan Rodgers (left) might have acquired a Gerrard-free squad

Gerrard thought little of it but team doctor Zaf Iqbal interrupted his evening meal after discovering it was badly infected.

He told The Times: 'I’d thought, “Some ice, anti-inflammatories, get the ankle a decent size where I can get my boot on… I’ll have a painkiller and play”.

'But the doctor was unhappy with the colour and size and had [taken fluid from it and] sent the sample for tests. There was a severe infection.'

Although he had been set to face West Brom the next day, Gerrard found himself having emergency surgery on his ankle.

Grateful: Gerrard is happy whenever he can play now

'If I hadn’t had the fluid out (of my ankle) within 24 hours I wouldn’t have had a cartilage. The bug would have eaten it,' Gerrard says.

'I’d probably have never played again, or even trained. In my mind, as the operation began, was, “This could be the end”.'

'I owe the doc and Chris Morgan, our physio. Last year put my career into perspective. At the beginning of this season I had a couple of disappointing games.

'A few years ago I’d have been driving myself mad, not sleeping at night. Now I think, “At least you’re out there”.'